20110825

Samsung HDTV Issue

I bought my first HDTV back in 2007, a 26" LCD from Samsung. After researching it ad nauseum, I figured out that Samsung had the best picture. I was pleased with the purchase, but have to admit that over $700 for the thing was kind of steep, but chalked it up to being on the cutting edge, and figured it was the price of hi def admission. Besides, this was an investment in enjoying TV, and was going to last for years.

Or so I thought. At around the three year mark, the Samsung had a serious issue. It would take 20 to 30 minutes from the time the power was turned on until I had a picture. All was connected, and there was audio, but the screen was a dark gray, with blurs and lines. I looked into it, and it appeared to be a capacitor issue. The more I delved, it effected not just the 26", but in fact every size across the spectrum, and only Samsung models. To make matters worse, Samsung was ignoring the issue, and wanted to know nothing about it. Well, my theory is that big business can only ignore the little guy so far, and I replaced the set with a new LED from Vizio.

The Samsung went into the basement, and was ignored and forgotten. More than once I was tempted to put it out for the trash, but something kept me from doing it; perhaps it was nostalgia. And so it sat for almost a year.

This week, I stumbled upon that Samsung has not acknowledged the issue. I called tech support at 1-800-SAMSUNG and explained, no make that pleaded my case. They went into suck silly troubleshoots such as "Is the TV set plugged in?" to which I replied "Duh, get me someone else." I reached the next level of tech support, and when I mentioned the phrase "Capacitor issue," I got put on a quick hold, and they returned with a plan.

Samsung will authorize the repair of the problem, so off to the repair shop I go. So glad I did not toss the set...

To be continued

More info 1
More info 2
More info 3

20110824

Acer Bets Wrong & Loses Big

I can fully admit that I am just slightly opinionated on technology. I have gone through more computers than I can count easily, and often get asked what to purchase.

My list of what not to buy goes long. It starts with Casio which sold me a watch, and it literally self destructed within a few months, and the company never answered my letter. It moves on to HP which IMHO ruined Compaq when they bought it, and refused to admit there was an issue with an external CDRW. I then also condemn Dell and Sony. While I have never owned either of their products, they are so unhelpful with customer service on their forums, I am glad to have avoided that pain.

So what the heck is left to buy you may wonder. Well, actually the only brand of notebook that I have purchased more than once is Acer. I have an Aspire notebook, and a Timeline CULV. While neither is perfect, they both are fine, and quite for the price.

However, Acer bet heavily on netbooks, and they are currently paying the price. They supposedly lost $234 million in the 2nd quarter, and are expected to have a similar 3rd quarter. Netbooks sales are simply down, and they won't be able to turn their product line on a dime.

I hope that Acer can get out of this. In the end their products are solid, and they should be able to shift. Their Android tablet the Aconia is intriguing and the upcoming 7" version should be worth parting with some cash soon for.

Engadget

20110823

Download Some Crapware

CNET's Download.com was consistently a safe source of software on the internet. The downloads were always fast, and certified to be spyware free, and not to mention quite plentiful. While I would sometimes hesitate to grab software from some site I was not familiar with, I never thought twice about downloading stuff from there.

Now CNET is apparently making a turn for the worse by wrapping the software in some required downloader. This apparently then tries to backdoor the user into changing their homepage, as well as one of those dreaded toolbars that I hate. Apparently you can opt out, but for the unsuspecting, they will be giving up pixels of browser space, and probably being tracked to these folks. Not exactly the type of open source I would like to support.

While times are tough, and obviously CNET has to show a profit. let's hope they can come up with some other way to do it. There is no point in using them for a download to avoid crapware, to get it directly from them anyway.

20110822

HP TouchPad

The HP TouchPad seems to have gained a second life over the weekend. While it was significantly dismissed and neglected at the $399 price point, it is simply amazing how it has flown off of shelves at the fire sale price of $99.

Did I rush out to buy one? Well, I was of the opinion that it was not all that great, and I simply did not want one at any price. Sure if you make something cheap enough, you can definitely overlook some shortcomings. I am not sure what that price would be for me, but at a C-note, it clearly was not there. Let us not forget that there will be no support, and no new apps or updates and this deal definitely starts to sour in my mind.

I have to admit that it is intriguing how the TouchPad is getting more attention after they canceled it. Maybe the lesson here is that they should have priced it better to begin with.